Fence



2 Sheets-+Sheet 1.

(No Model.) T. B. FERGUSON, Jr. FENCE No. 608,628. Patented Ma.y 10,1898.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. B. FERGUSON, Jr.

' FENCE.

Patented May 10,1898.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. FERGUSON, JR, OF WAYNESBOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

FENCE.

v I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 603,628, dated May 10, 1898.

. Application filed October 8, 1897.

T0 00% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS B. FERGUSON, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Waynesborough, in the county of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fences, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in wire fences and palings and clips therefor, and has for its object to so construct devices of this description as to provide an exceedingly simple and ornamental, as well as useful, fence.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which. Y

Figure 1 is an elevationof a portion of a fence made up of the elements of my invention; Fig. 2, an enlarged View of a portion of picket, showing one of the clips secured in place, made in accordance with my improvement; Fig. 3, a section at the line w w of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a section at the line y y of Fig. 2; and Figs. 5 to 11, inclusive, various forms of pickets embodying my improvement.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied I take a series of pickets A, made in the manner hereinafterset forth, and secure them in place upon the fence by the strands of line-wire B, which are twisted around the clips of each picket in any suitable manner.

0 represents one of the posts which compose the fence, and for staying this post a base-plate D maybe provided which has anchor-rods E projecting downward therefrom,

fierial No. 654,540. (No model.)

similar to the stay F be placed at right angles to the line of fence, thus giving proper support for side strains brought to bear upon 5 5 the fence. The plate Dmaybe also utilized for staying the fence at intermediate points between the posts either for lengthwise or sidewise strain, since by attaching the stayrod F to the upright rodR this result will be had, it being noted that the stay-rod may be placed either in line with the fence or at right angles thereto.

In order that the pickets, the construction of which will be hereinafter set forth, shall be properly held rigid after formation, I provide the clips I, which are here shown as made of sheet metal bent in E shape, so as to provide the flanges I, and having slots K therein for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

Now in the formation ofa picket of the shape shown in Fig. 5 a single piece of wire L is bent in the general form of a staple, its endsbeing of greater length than the completed picket. When the'proper number of clips which are to be used upon the completed picket are passed over these ends and upward until lying next the bow or semicircular portion M, theends of the picket'are then bent inward and upward, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, so that they are brought in parallelism with the sides of the picket, after which the clips are slid downward to their proper location upon the completed picket and there secured by bulging or bending the strands of the picket into the slots, as indicated at N in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Finally, the end strips 0, which are formed with the clip, are bent around the outer strands of-the picket, thus producing a complete and finished article.

It is obvious from what immediately precedes that the various forms of pickets shown in Figs. 5 to 11, inclusive, may be constructed in the same manner as that just described, the only difference being in the design and 5 manner of bending the strands of wire.

Pickets thus made may be utilized for the construction of fences, as before set forth, and when so used ,.will produce an exceedingly simple and yet ornamental fence, which will be as durable or more so than when composed of wooden pickets. The clips, instead of having a U -shaped groove P formed therein, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, may have a V-shaped groove,.as shown in dotted lines in said figure, or its channel may be of any other shape.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. In combination, a fence-picket composed of a single length of wire bent to form a number of parallel strands more than two in number, and clips of sheet metal passed upon the strands during the formation of the picket, in the manner described.

2. A fence-picket composed of a single length of wire bent to produce a number of strands parallel with each other and more than two in number, and clips of sheet metal having side flanges with holes therethrough, said strands being passed through said holes in the'manner described.

3. A fence-picket composed of a single length of wire bent to produce a number of strands parallel with each other and more than two in number, and clips of sheet metal E-shaped in cross-section producing flanges, through which said strands are passed in the manner described, and means for preventing a longitudinal movement of the clips, substantially as set forth.

4. Incombination with a picket of the character described,a clip composed of sheet metal so bent as toprovide flanges through which 1 ing its formation, and so secured as to hold the elements of the picket rigid relatii e to each other, as specified.

6. A fence-picket composed of a single length of wire' bent to produce a number of strands parallel with each other and more than two in number, and clips-of sheet metal E-shaped in cross-section producing flanges,

said clips being slotted, said strands being passed through said flanges andbent or bulged into the slots, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS E. FERGUSON-JR.

Witnesses:

L. O. MORRISON, ALLISON W. McCURnY. 

